Market expansion requires speed, local insight, and flawless execution. The wrong hire can easily delay your launch by 12-18 months, burn through marketing budgets, or even damage your reputation in a new country.
A great Country Manager, on the other hand, ensures that:
Your go-to-market strategy is tailored to local conditions.
The first sales and partnerships are established quickly.
A local team can be built and scaled effectively.
You, as headquarters, get reliable market feedback to adjust strategy early.
That’s why companies are increasingly asking: Where do we find these people?
Top Job Portals for Hiring Country Managers
Posting your job ad in the right place can be the difference between 10 unqualified applications and 5 strong candidates. Below are the job boards where Country Manager and Go-to-Market roles perform best.
Why it works: Global reach, executive audience, excellent for targeting by location, industry, and seniority.
Best for: Attracting candidates already in international roles, open to new challenges.
Pro tip: Boost your ad with paid promotion in target geographies to stand out.
2. StepStone (Europe)
Massive reach worldwide.
Good for visibility, but less focused on senior-level roles.
Works well if combined with strong employer branding and filtering tools.
Other job portals to recruit country managers for your team
4. Experteer (Executive Roles)
Specializes in leadership and C-level positions.
Attracts professionals looking for Country Head, General Manager, and VP-level roles.
Great if you want candidates who are used to P&L responsibility.
5. Welcome to the Jungle (France & Southern Europe)
Growing portal with a modern employer branding focus.
Useful for Country Manager hires in France, Spain, and Italy.
Attracts entrepreneurial candidates who value culture as much as compensation.
6. ExecuNet / The Ladders (US Market)
Strong reach for senior executive talent in the US.
Relevant if you’re expanding into North America or looking for US-based Country Launchers for European companies.
7. Country-Specific Executive Boards
Jobindex (Denmark), Finn.no (Norway), SEEK (Australia), and other regional platforms can be powerful if you know your target market.
These sites attract locals who want to lead expansions of international brands.
Why Job Portals Alone Are Not Enough
While posting on the right portal is a good start, many of the best Country Managers are not actively looking. They are already leading markets, hitting KPIs, and only consider moving when approached with the right opportunity.
This is why companies often struggle with Country Manager recruitment:
Applications may be limited to candidates who lack true launch experience.
Top performers are “passive candidates” who need to be headhunted.
Cultural alignment is hard to assess from a CV alone.
That’s where a combination of job portals + targeted headhunting + employer branding delivers the best results.
How to Attract Top Country Managers (Employer Branding Tips)
Even if you get your job ad in front of the right eyes, you still need to convince them that your role is the one to choose. Here’s how to stand out.
1. Clear Role Definition & Growth Potential
Country Managers are not middle manager, they’re entrepreneurs within your company.
- ✅ Clearly state their decision-making authority.
- ✅ Highlight growth opportunities: Will they build a team of 5? 50? Will they become Regional Director after success?
- ✅ Transparency about KPIs and expectations helps attract candidates who thrive on measurable impact.
2. Competitive Compensation & Local Benefits
Top Go-to-Market experts know their worth.
✅ Combine fixed salary with a strong performance bonus tied to revenue or milestones.
✅ Offer local benefits: company car in Germany, health insurance in the US, flexible holidays in Southern Europe.
✅ Be transparent about equity or stock options if you want to attract entrepreneurial talent.
3. Autonomy and Trust in Decision-Making
Country Managers want the freedom to act.
✅ Make clear that this role comes with independence in shaping local strategy.
✅ Show how HQ will support (not micromanage).
✅ Candidates want to know they can adapt marketing, pricing, and hiring without going through endless approval loops.
4. Cultural Fit and International Mindset (Optional but Powerful)
Highlight your company’s values and how they align with international leadership:
✅ Openness to cross-border collaboration.
✅ Respect for local cultures.
✅ Ability to innovate with a startup mindset.
This resonates strongly with globally minded leaders.
Why Work with a Specialized Recruiting Agency
Recruiting Country Managers and Go-to-Market experts is not the same as filling a standard role. It requires:
Access to international networks of proven leaders.
Experience in screening for entrepreneurial and cultural fit.
Ability to approach passive candidates confidentially and professionally.
At CareerBee, we specialize in exactly this. We help companies across Europe and the US identify, attract, and hire Country Managers who can deliver successful market launches.
With our support, you get:
Faster time-to-hire.
Reduced risk of costly mis-hires.
Access to talent you won’t find through job portals alone.
Conclusion: Recruiting your next country manager / Go-to-market expert
Hiring a Country Manager is one of the most strategic decisions a company can make during international expansion. Posting on the right job portals can help you get visibility, but true success comes from combining smart advertising with strong employer branding and proactive headhunting.
If you’re looking to hire a Country Manager / Go-to-Market expert / Country Launcher, CareerBee is here to help.
Contact us today to discuss your hiring needs and find the leader who will drive your next successful market entry.
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